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Experience

CAREER SUMMARY

Senior non-profit director with a broad range of hands-on and management experience with a proven ability to plan and execute strategic initiatives. Special experience leading change in rebuilding/turnaround environments. Strong background in and commitment to education and arts organizations. A proven leader who creates a strong vision for the future, builds consensus, and delivers measurable results.

PARTICULAR STRENGTHS

  • Demonstrated ability managing change, crafting strategic communication and fund raising plans, and implementing new programs
  • Outstanding financial management track record; develop and manage budgets to more effectively meet organization’s strategic mission and goals
  • Solid background in program design, development, execution, and results measurement
  • Strong collaboration skills (extensive experience building consensus with a broad range of constituents: volunteers, staff, board members, students, artists, and other stakeholders); manage through influence rather than authority
  • Create fun, dynamic work environment where staff and supporters want to do their best work; good sense of humor
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

BATS CENTER FOR IMPROVISATIONAL THEATRE - San Francisco, CA - 2002 to 2007

Executive Director — Provided day-to-day management and leadership. Responsible for strategic planning, financial oversight, theater management, administration, fundraising, grant writing, marketing, public relations, and board development.

  • Hired in 2002 to lead company through transition from a largely volunteer-based organization to sustainable, financially solid, professionally managed theater company
  • Grew annual revenues by 40% over four years while keeping expense growth under 10%
  • Achieved 200% increase in grant income and 50% increase in number of annual donors; received outstanding feedback from granting agencies about the proposal quality
  • Secured new grants from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, SF Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts, Zellerbach Family Foundation and others
  • Implemented first annual fund campaign; designed and led organization's largest and most successful capital campaign to renovate theater and build new wheelchair-accessible stage
  • Guided organization through development and implementation of new strategic plan, including the creation of revised mission, vision, and values statements
  • Revised all accounting and financial procedures to improve cash flows and planning, and created annual budgeting process to align financial decisions with strategic goals
  • Developed new Player's Handbook establishing policies and procedures to govern operations
  • Led marketing and communications effort to develop new visual identity, web site, and improve regular communication with internal and external constituents
  • Designed and built constituent database (tracking students, players, alumni, enrollments, donations)
  • Elected president of the Fort Mason Center Resident’s Association

TENDO COMMUNICATIONS - San Francisco, CA - 2000 to 2002

Editorial Director — Provided editorial leadership and managed content development for high-tech, financial services, educational, insurance, and B2C clients. Developed project budgets, editorial line-ups, managed freelance writers, editors, art directors, and designers. Managed 6 staff members and represented agency at client meetings and new business pitches.

  • Led editorial strategic planning effort; developed new workflow that cut costs and delivered better content to clients; received outstanding reviews from supervisor, staff, and clients
  • Editorial director for 3,000 page Cisco iQ Web site; developed story line-ups, assigned stories, managed content through Web production, proofing and posting; directed migration from static HTML site to dynamic content publishing system
  • Editor of Informix Magazine; wrote CEO communication, technical columns and industry news
  • Developed content strategy for Cisco Systems, Motorola, Avon, Honda, Amdahl, and KalKan

SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY - Santa Clara, CA - 1997 to 2000

Director of University Marketing Communications (Acting) — Managed comprehensive marketing communications program, including public and media relations, publication production and graphic and Web design. Managed $1.3 million budget and 14 staff members.

  • After 10 months in the development office, was promoted to lead the marketing communications office through a two-year transformation to lead a campus-wide integrated marketing effort
  • Reorganized department to increase marketing effectiveness and improve customer service; used performance planning process to link individual staff goals to larger strategic plan
  • Restructured $1.3 million budget to improve financial tracking and fiscal management; resolved all outstanding budget issues inherited from predecessor
  • Directed market research, conducted focus groups, wrote and edited copy and Web content
  • Wrote and edited award-winning alumni magazine and faculty/staff newspaper; winner of three CASE publication awards in two years
  • Conducted publication audit: compiled data on 220 communication pieces, presented results including a visual review, surveyed staff and implemented recommendations based on findings
  • Crafted 150th anniversary promotion plan and budget; managed design of 150th Web site and other material

Associate Director of Major Gifts — Managed 75 major gift prospects through stages of identification, cultivation and ask. Wrote client prospect plans and strategies. Served as chief fund raising officer for University Center of Distinction and coordinated board development programs. Acted as fund raising liaison for campus construction projects.

  • Cultivated, solicited and closed $110,000 gift toward new performing arts plaza
  • Developed Packard Foundation proposal for Music & Dance Building, resulting in a $200,000 grant
  • Authored development plan for the University’s Ethics Center; guided the Center through a restructuring of their board recruitment process
  • Designed concept and wrote copy for award-winning capital fund raising brochure

GARCES MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL - Bakersfield, CA -1994 to 1997

Director of Development — Designed, built support for, and implemented comprehensive development and alumni relations program. Managed all facets of fund development and marketing communications including strategic planning and implementation. Conducted review of all fund raising activities and wrote long-term development plan. Managed design and construction of new administration building and new library.

  • Instituted inaugural annual fund drive that doubled unrestricted donations; increased net fund raising by 54% in two years
  • Developed $800,000 annual budget and long-term financial projections; cut fund raising expense by 14%; led budget and financial aid committees
  • Managed $1.3 million in campus construction projects through design and construction
  • Wrote, edited and designed 50 collateral pieces including monthly newsletters, event invitations and semi-annual alumni magazine
  • Managed the day-to-day activities of more than 400 volunteers for various fund raising and public relations events

MARYMOUNT COLLEGE - Palos Verdes, CA - 1992 to 1993

Assistant Director of Admissions— Represented college while recruiting new students at more than 120 high schools throughout western United States.

  • Planned and produced on-campus open house event, increasing attendance by 50%
  • Wrote promotional materials, produced monthly newsletter and supervised student programs
  • Increased applicant yield for territories while reducing expenses by 25%

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Loyola Marymount University; Los Angeles, California (1992)
B.A., Communications – Magna Cum Laude
Minor in Business Administration

OTHER SKILLS

  • Extensive media and presentation experience, including live-broadcast hosting; appeared in more than a dozen industrial training films for companies such as Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Macy's, Providian Financial, IBM/Genesys, Applied Materials, CNET, Siemens Medical, Advanced Micro Devices, Wells Fargo, SBC Communications, Intuit, Peoplesoft, Microsoft, Genentech, and Gillette
  • Member of the Screen Actor’s Guild and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists
  • Extensive computer and design experience: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint), Adobe Creative Suite, In Design, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, many others